Ghent is in the Flemish-speaking part of Belgium. Although it’s a popular tourist destination, it certainly retains its own, authentic, local atmosphere. It’s a city characterised by its local population, who will set the scene for your adventure.
This walking tour will give you an overview of what this city has to offer.
We will start at 2PM at Saint Bavo square with its cathedral, famous for its painting the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, made by John and Hubert Van Eyck.
Our guide will offer you a historical overview of the City Theatre and Ghent's Belfry Tower. Before heading to the Stadsbrewery, we will stop at Chocolaterie Vanhoverbeke for a chocolate tasting: 3 delicious chocolates made with the best cacao beans.
If we talk about beer; Ghent has 2 local breweries situated in the centre. Most beers in Ghent are made with gruut instead of hops, which makes them very different from beers anywhere in Belgium.
In the brewery you will attend an introduction to the brewing process, followed by 2 beer tastings.
After beer we head to the old port of Ghent with its guild houses and the Castle of the Counts of Flanders. One of the specialities, besides beer and chocolate, is geneva gin. Therefore we go to one of the smallest taverns situated along the waterside and in front of the old meat halls.
We will finish our adventure with 3 more beers in different taverns spread out in the centre and impossible to find for the normal tourist. The beers are accompanied by local snacks.
When the tour is finished you can stroll down the small streets looking for a good local restaurant with food dishes like Waterzooi, Gand ham.